DIC SAYS "CHECK CHARGING SYSTEM"

[BIG_WILLY]

Hello People,

I Am New To This Website. I Happen To Run Across It By Doing A Google Search. I Wish I Knew About This In The Past. Anyways, The Problem I Have With The Rora Is That Within The Past Month The Dic Says "check Charging System" And I Get The Low Volts Icon. This Has Happen Three Times In The Past Month. I Haven't Heard Any Sqealing And The Belt Is Tighter Than Diasy Dukes On A Fat Chick, Maybe Not That Tight But You Know What I Mean. Just Like Today, I Went To Work Which Is A Good 60 Miles Round Trip And The Car Was Fine, But I Got Home And Chilled Until I Had To Make A Run To The Store. I Got In The Rora Fired It Up And Within 30 Seconds, Ding, Ding. It Said What I Put In The Start Of Paragraph So I Shut It Off And Started It Back Up To Have It Say It Again. I Am Kinda Hurting Because Of Christmas Shopping And Dont Have The Money To Take It To High Dollar Mechanic Or Put It On The Machine Because It Is Not A "96" And Up And Obd Ii Scan Tool Will Not Work. I Know Some Things About Automobiles But This Rora Has Too Many Gadgets And Stuff. I Am Just Looking To See If Any Other Members Have Ever Had This Happen And Know A Quick Fix Or Some Easy Things To Check. Any Info Will Be Appreciated And Used. Tia

Af Newbie,

Willy

[ghutchin]

Alternator, unless you have some wiring issue, but its most likly the electronics in the alternator are failing.

[BIG_WILLY]

Originally Posted by ghutchin

Alternator, unless you have some wiring issue, but its most likly the electronics in the alternator are failing.

Would this mean the Alternator will decide to work whenever it wants? Does this Alternator have the Voltage Regulator built in the Alternator. I was just wondering because I haven't been able to find any work manuals on this car like a CHILTON or HAYNES. I went to a Parts Dealers and Hastings w/ no luck. This is problem has got me worried.

[ghutchin]

The voltage regulator is in the alternator, that is probably failing. I would recommended changing the whole thing. You could wait though until it permanatly fails.

[baron1701]

Goto Ebay and find the manuals. For the 95 they go pretty cheap, usually in the $30-60 range. I was lucky enough to have worked for a caddy dealer in another life and 'aquired' some dusty used manuals. They are so damned detailed. I often just flip thru them when i'm sitting around with some free time. Between those manuals and the people on this forum you should be ok for almost anything.

[BIG_WILLY]

I wish I had known about this forum early like when I got the car. I love my RORA to death and hope to keep on loving her. If I can only get this hick up out of the way. Will driving it with this problem ruining any of my electronic or fry anything? If so I will have to start driving the old Ford which has no heater and it is to cold for that.

[Indy8]

Originally Posted by ghutchin

The voltage regulator is in the alternator, that is probably failing. I would recommended changing the whole thing. You could wait though until it permanatly fails.

Having the car towed home after complete failure will cost three times the amount of an alternator.

[BIG_WILLY]

That's true Indy8. I just tried cranking it this morning. It said the same thing until I quick rev it past 3,000 the the DIC said "BATTERY VOLT 15.4" which seems to be charging now, but it wasn't at first. This sounds maybe like a almost shot alternator. Hoping to find one cheap but I heard they are pretty high. Near $140!!! Ouch, That will hurt my wallet but I guess it is about that time.

[baron1701]

I got one on EBAY for $30 shipped from an aurora w/ 58,000 miles. I have it sitting in my back room in case mine goes dead. I thought it was going to die, but it was just my battery acting up. Point is, they can be gotten pretty cheap - unless you want a new one.

[BIG_WILLY]

Right now I am trying to get to the alternator and make sure it is the Alternator and not the wiring. It is pretty cold outside (well for me) so I am getting to it slowly. Got to find something around the house to use as a jumper wire for the connecter going into alternator. Any Ideals? I got a Multimeter to make sure plug in connecter on Alternator to make sure no "Ground Outs or Shorts", the continuity was good. So maybe that will mean the alternator. Just got to hook up the Alternator some how to the Multimeter. Wish Me Luck. Willy Out!

[BIG_WILLY]

Well, I got it (Alternator) out after wrestling with it all day, well since noon. That was kinda of a hard project. The only way I could get it out was taking the cooling fans off and a few radiator hoses. The bolts holding it on was a thing to get to. Wish I had smaller hands and they were magnetized. Anyways took it to Auto Zone and they called it Bad after three test. All three times it failed. I was sure glad in a way that it was bad, the only thing now is waiting for next check to roll in on the First so I can get a new one. Sorry Baron but after all that work I want a new one with a LifeTime Warranty on it. Cost way to much to have to spend that every time one goes bad. Anyways Thanks for your help and hope to talk to you guys again. Just hope it is not a problem I am having. HaHaHa. Happy Holidays and Be Safe. Willy Out!

[saxman2006]

First off, I have a 1995 Aurora, and the OBD II scan tool WILL work on your vehicle. I have a mactools OBD I/OBD II Scanner computer, and I have used it with the OBD II cable to diagnose every problem I have had with the car. Don't let anyone tell you they won't check it without at least looking at the diagnostics port to be sure they are correct. GM switched to the OBD II diagnostics system in most of their vehicles for the 1995 model year. If I am wrong, take it to the dealership, the service department of any major GM dealer should be able to check it with the equipment that they have. Good luck fixing this!

[parts68]

OBD1 diagnostics,OBD2 connector for 95s

Originally Posted by saxman2006

First off, I have a 1995 Aurora, and the OBD II scan tool WILL work on your vehicle. I have a mactools OBD I/OBD II Scanner computer, and I have used it with the OBD II cable to diagnose every problem I have had with the car. Don't let anyone tell you they won't check it without at least looking at the diagnostics port to be sure they are correct. GM switched to the OBD II diagnostics system in most of their vehicles for the 1995 model year. If I am wrong, take it to the dealership, the service department of any major GM dealer should be able to check it with the equipment that they have. Good luck fixing this!

[parts68]

Baron want to sell that used one? I need one bad.

[Rayzer47]

Big Willy, I am currently working on removing the Alternator, every bolt is a challenge, and it is getting sub zero in my garage soon! I think I can get the last bolt out of the alt., but my real question is how can I release the belt tension first. I cannot see how to get at the tensioner. Can you give me any idea, I might want to change the belt also.